Process of extracting grease from wool.



No; 669,955. Patented Mar. I2, ram.

w. ERBEN.

PROCESS OF EXTBAC'TING GREASE FROM WOOL. (Application filed May 12. 1.899.) I

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

( No Model.)

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Patentad Mar. 12, I90l. Manse". PROCESS OF EXTRAGTING GREASE FROM WOOL.

(Application filed- May 12, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.,

(No Model.)

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Nita T TES VVALTER ERBEN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PROCESS OF EXTRACTING GREASE FROM WOOL.

SEEOIFIGATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 669.955, dated March 12, 1901.

Application filed May 12, 1899. serial No. 716,548. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, WALTER ERBEN, acitizen of the United States, residing in Philad elphia, Pennsylvania, have in vented certain Improvements in Methods of Extracting Grease from Wool, of which the following is a specification.

Theobject of my invention is to provide an efficient method of extracting grease from wool by means of naphtha or other suitable solvent, an object which I attain in the manner hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a representation in diagrammatic form of apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention, and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of part of the extracting-keir and mechanism used in connection therewith.

The extraction ofgrease from wool by means of naphtha or equivalent solvent of grease has been many times proposed, but has not, so far as I am aware, been extensively used in practice,lone of the objections to the process being the highly-inflammable character of the solvent, another being the difficulty of removing all traces of the solvent from the wool after the grease has been extracted therefrom, and still another being the expensive char-' acter of the apparatus designed for carrying out the process. My invention has therefore been devised with the view of overcoming these objections, the apparatus used by me being represented in the accompanying draw- In connection with the extracting keir and solvent-tan ks are employed a vacuum-pump F, a solvent-pump G, a high-pressure water-l pump H, a solvent-heater I, solvent-stills J and K, with their condensers L and M, an evaporator N to recover potash from the water used for washing the wool in the keir, a.

heater P for said water, and a condenser S for any solvent-vapor that may be withdrawn from any part of the apparatus by the vacuum-pump.

In connection with the solvent vessels are used five mains 01., b, c, d, and f, each of these mains communicating with each of the solvent-tan ks through a suitable valved branch, the main a constituting a vacuum-main and being in communication also with the condenser S, with the vacuum-pump, with the upper and lower portions of the keir, and with the still J. The main 1) is the solvent'supply main, and in said main is introduced the solvent-pump G and the solvent-heater I, this main communicating with the lower portion of the keir and also with the lower portion of the solvent-still K. The main 0 is a solventreturn main, communicating with the bottom of the keir and also with the solventpipes ot' the condensers L and M. The main d is also a solvent-return main, communicating with the upper portion of the extracting-keir. The main f is a transfer main connecting each of the solvent-tanks with the main b, where it issues from the solvent-pu mp, whereby solvent may he transferred from any one of the solvent-tanks to any other one of the same, as desired.

A pipe g leads fro m the lower portion of the extracting-keir to the lower portion of the solvent-still J, a branch h of this pipe leading to the sewer or other waste-outflow and another branch 41 leading to the evaporator N. A pipej leads from the upper portion of the extracting-keir to the solvent-still J, and a pipe serves to convey grease from the bottom of the solvent-still K to a grease-receptacle, (not shown in the drawings, but located at any suitable point.) A pipe m leads from the elevated reservoir and water-heater P to the lower portion of the extracting-keir. The tank S in the vacuum-main a has a cold-water coil or other cooling device, so as to condense any solvent-vapors which may be drawn into said tank, and the discharge-pipe of the vacuum-pump may also, if desired, be provided with such a cooling or condensing tank.

Valves 1 and 2 in the main a control communication between the vacuum-pump and the upper portion of the eXtracting-keir, the two valves being employed, so as to open or close communication either from a point adjacent to the keir or from a point adjacent to the pump. Valves 3 control the communication between each solvent-tank and the so1vent-pnn1p,a valve 4 governs the discharge from said pump into the main 1), and a valve 5 governs the discharge from the solventpump into the main f. Valves 6 and 7 determine whether the discharge from the solvent-pump shall be directed to the solventheater I or to the solventstill K, and a valve 8 governs the communication between the solvent-heater and the lower portion of the extracting-heir. A valve 9 governs communication between the upper portion of the extracting-keir and the solvent-return main d, and valves 10 control communication between said main and the solvent-tanks. A valve 11 governs the fiow through a pipe n,which leads from the high-pressure pump H to a cylinder 37, forming part of a ram used in connection with thekeir,asdescribedhereinafter. Avalve 12 governs the flow from the lower portion of the extracting-heir to the solvent-return main 0, and valves 13 govern communication between said main and the various solvent-tanks, a valve 1 1 controlling the flow of solvent from the condenser L into said return-main c. A valve 15 is interposed in the vacuum-main a between the solvent-tanks and the vacuumpump, and valves 16 control the communication between said vacuum-main and the different solvent-tanks, a valve 17 controlling communication between the vacuum-pump and the solvent-still J. A valve 18 governs the flow of water through the pipe mfrom the elevated reservoir P into the lower portion of the extracting-keir, and a valve 19 governs the flow through the pipej from the upper portion of the extracting-heir to the solventstill J. A valve 20 governs the fiow from the lower portion of the keir into the pipe g, a valve 21 governing the flow from said pipe to the sewer, a valve 22 governing the flow from said pipe to the still J, and a valve 23 governing the flow from said still J through the pipe 1' into the evaporator N. A valve 24 governs the flow from the still J to the condenser L, the flow from the condenser M -or cover 1 of the keir, and through channels formed in the under side of said cap or cover.

The lower portion of the keir is combined with a ram carrying a movable perforated plunger or false bottom, the construction of this portion of each keir being represented in the enlarged view, Fig. 2, in which represents said false bottom, which is in the form of a piston or plunger, fitted to the interior of the heir so as to slide freely therein and having Valves 27 govern a perforated horizontal web 31, on which is supported a perforated grate 32, the web 31 having a central hub 33, which is supported, preferably by means of a ball-and-socket joint, upon the upper end of the plunger 34 of the ram, a bolt 35 serving to confine the false bottom vertically to said plunger.

To the bottom plate 36 of the keir is bolted the upper end of the ram-cylinder 37, which has a stuffing-box casing 38, through which passes the ram or plunger 34, said stuffingboX casing having a follower 39, as usual, for compressing the packing therein. lVith the upper portion of the ram-cylinder 37 communicates the pipe n, leading to the high-pressure pump.

It will be understood that the keir, the stills, and the various solvent-tanks which I use in carrying out my invention are intended to be provided with gage-glasses, try-cocks, vacuum-breakers, air-vents, safety-valves, sightboxes, and such like details, which it has not been deemed necessary to illustrate because of the small scale of the drawings, and it is preferable to connect all vents through which solvent-vapor can escape with a single main leading to any convenient point where such vapor can be either condensed or carried to the outside of the-apartment in which the operations are being carried on, so that there will be no accumulation of solvent-vapor in said apartment.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The false bottom of the keir being lowered to its'full extent, the wool is placed in the keir and the cover of the same is fastened on. The vacuum-pump is then started, and valves 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 9 are opened. When the desired partial vacuum in the heir has been obtained, the valves 3 and 10 of one of the solvent-tanks-say the tank Bare opened, and the solvent-pump G is started, thereby drawing solvent from said tank B and forcing the same through the solvent-heaterinto thelower portion of the heir. The particular form of solvent-heater I have shown in the drawings is of the Well-known tubular type, in which the steam or other heating agent passes through a chamber crossed by the tubes through which the solvent is caused to flow, and it will be evident that the degree of temperature imparted to the solvent can be readily regulated by correspondingly regulating the rate of flow of the solvent through the tubes or by regulation of the flow of the heating agent through the chamber crossed by said tubes. When the keir is almost full of solvent,

the vacuum-pumpis stopped and the valves 1 and 2 are closed to prevent sol ven t being drawn wool is thoroughlydegreased. After the wool has been degreased all of the valves previously open are closed, and the valve 12 and a valve 13 of one of the tanks B, C, D, or E are opened, so that the solvent may be permitted to drain back into said tank through the main 0. When the wool is Well drained, the valve 11 in the pipe n is opened, and the pump H is started, so as to force water under pressure into the ram-cylinder 37, thereby elevating the false bottom of the keir and compressing, the wool against the perforated plate of the cover. The solvent thus expressed from the wool flows back through main 0 and valves 12 and 13 to the solvent-tank, and the draining of the wool is facilitated by starting the vacuum-pump and opening the valve 15 and the valve 16 of the tank into which the solvent is being drained, so as to create a partial vacuum in said drainage-receivingsolvent-tank and in the keir. Such solvent as mayhave entered the annular chamber at the top of the keir can be permitted to flow back into its proper tank by way of the main dand valves 9 and 10. The valves on all pipes communicating with the interior of the keir being now closed, the false bottom is caused to descend and the woolthus permitted to expand or loosen up, the valve 17 being then opened and the vacuum-pump started. When sufficient vacuum has been obtained in the still J, the valves 18 and 19 are opened, and the heated water from the elevated tank P flows into and through the keir and carries with it the remaining traces of solvent contained in the mass of wool, at the same time dissolving and carrying along with it the potash salts usually associated with the wool. The mixture of water and solvent flows into the still J, and when the washing oper ation has been continued as long as desired the pump H is started, the valve 11 is opened, the false bottom of the keir is raised, and the wool is compressed. The valve 18 being still open, water fills the keir below the false bottom as the latter rises, so that all of the water and solvent remaining in the wool will be compelled to escape from the top of the keir, so as to enter the still J, no solvent being lost by permitting the expressed water and solvent to run into the bottom of the keir as the false bottom is raised. The valves 18.19 are now closed and the valves 20 and 21 opened, so as to permit the water now contained in the keir, and which contains neither solvent nor potash, to escape to the sewer. The valve 22 is provided, however, in case it is desired to run this water into the still J instead of into the sewer. The opening of the valve 19 permits water which may be in the channel at the top of the keir to run into the still Jthrough the pipej. All of the valves previously opened being now closed, the false bottom of the keir is lowered, the vacuum-pump is started, and the valve 28 is opened, so as to create a partial vacuum in the keir, and air being permitted to enter the upper portion of the keir to break this vacuum the cover is removed and the false bottom of the keir is again raised, so as to force the wool out of the same, the downward flow of airthrough the wool preventing the escape of any fumes or vapors, which might otherwise arise therefrom. The solvent distilled from the mixture of water and solvent in the still J is condensed and run back into any desired one of the solventtanks through the main 0 and valves 14 and 13, and the water remaining in the still is run into the evaporator N through the pipe '6 and valves 22 and 23 in order to recover the potash.

When the solvent contained in any one of the solvent-tanks becomes saturated with grease and it is desired to distil the same, the valves 3, 4, 7, and 25 are opened, as well as the valve 13 of that tank int-o which it is desired to return the distilled solvent,the greasy solvent being pumped into the still K through the main Z), the vaporized solvent being condensed in the condenser M and returned to the desired tank through the main 0 and valves 25 and 13 and the grease remainingin the still K being run elf to the grease-tank through the pipe k and valve' 26.

A separate pump may be used for conveying the greasy solvent from the solvent-tanks to the still K, and a pump may be used for circulating the water through the keir, although I prefer to employ the elevated reservoir of heated water and to draw the same through the wool by creating a partial vacuum in the keir. Cold water may be used if the keir has means of heating the water after it has been introduced therein.

An important feature of my invention is the heating of the solvent prior to its action upon the wool, for I have found that when this is done not onlyain I enabled to remove the grease from the wool, but also to remove what is known as the yolk and suint. If this is not removed, the hot water subsequently introduced into the keir to remove the solvent remaining in the wool will comblue with said solvent, yolk, and suint to form an emulsion, which not only prevents the circulation of the water through the mass of wool but also seriously interferes with if it does not actually prevent the subsequent washing and scouring of the wool.

I have found that in order to obtain the best results with 72 naphtha the temperature of the solvent employed should be about 100 Fahrenheit and the temperature of the water used to remove the remaining traces of solvent from the wool should be about 130 Fahrenheit, and while my invention is not the keir when the false bottom is being raised to express the surplus wash-water and solvent from the mass of wool, as the process excluding such features forms the subject of an application filed by me on the 19th day of February, 1901, under Serial No. 47,945.

I do not in this application claim the apparatus herein disclosed for extracting grease from wool, as such apparatus forms the subject-matter of my divisional application for a patent, filed January 26, 1901, Serial No. 44,861.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. An improvement in the art of extracting grease from wool by means of volatile liquid solvent in a closed vessel, said improvement consisting in first forcing or drawing heated liquid solvent through the mass of wool, then expressing surplus solvent from the wool by mechanical pressure, then releasing the wool from such pressure, then forcing or drawing water through the wool in order to remove the remaining traces of solvent therefrom, and then expressing surplus water from the wool by mechanical pressure, substantially as specified.

2. An improvement in the art of extracting grease from wool by means of volatile liquid solvent ina closed vessel, said improvement consisting in first forcing or drawing through plus water from the wool by mechanical pressure, substantially as specified.

3. An improvement in the art of extracting grease from wool by means of volatile liquid solvent in a closed vessel, said improvement consisting in first forcingor drawing heated liquid solvent through the mass of wool, then expressing surplus solvent from the wool by mechanical pressure, then releasing the wool from such pressure, then forcing or drawing heated water through the wool in order to remove the remaining traces of solvent therefrom, and then expressing surplus water from the wool by mechanical pressure, substantially as specified.

4. An improvement in the art of extracting grease from wool by means of volatile liquid solventin a closed vessel, said improvement consisting in first forcing or drawing heated liquid solvent through the mass of wool to extract the grease, then expressing surplus solvent from the wool by mechanical pressure, then releasing the wool from such pressure, then forcing or drawing heated water through the wool in order to remove the remaining tracesof solvent therefrom, and then expressing surplus water from the wool by mechanical pressure applied to the bottom of the mass, and introducing water beneath the mass as it is being compressed, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WALTER ERBEN.

Witnesses:

F. E. BECHTOLD, J 0s. H. KLEIN. 

